Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/125

 1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 105 Lord Lincoln, who had come over for the ratification of the treaty, returned to England loaded with presents ; and the King at his departure expressed a hope that, his sister's would not be the only marriage on which those who wished well to Europe would have to con- gratulate themselves. Two honourable courses were open to Elizabeth, either of which would have satisfied the French Go- vernment, and would have been equally advantageous to the cause which she ought to have had at heart. If she could not bring herself to accept Alencon, she might have declined without offence on the ground of inequality of age, but at the same time she should have given Charles a security for her political constancy by declaring war against Spain. He feared, and feared with justice, that she was trying only to excite confu- sion on the Continent ; and that when France had once committed itself, she would fall back on the heredi- tary English policy, and either stand neutral in the quarrel, or perhaps, if France was likely to be too suc- cessful, even join with Philip. 1 Of the willingness of the English people to assist the Netherlander there could be no doubt. Captain 1 ' Angli quibus has turbte in his locis excitatse simt non hoc consi- lium nee scopum sibi proposuerunt ut Belgicara ditionem ad Gallos ali- quando transferant ; id enim sibi valde incommodum et suae politise contrariura fore vident ; sed ut his artibus Regem Philippum Belgicis tumultibus hie iraplicent, utque is cogatur opes copiasque suas in suis rebus rexmperandis ac tuendis con- sumere, quod Galli his proximis duo- bus circiter annis, illorum pessimis artibus etiam vehementer ad hoc impulsi, facere coacti sunt.' to Sir F. Englefield, Juiie, 1572: MSS. Simaneas.